Closure assembly

ABSTRACT

A receptacle closure assembly having a pair of pivoted blades. A spring extending across the underside of each blade between the pivot axis and closing edge thereof maintains the blades tightly closed and holds them against rattling.

D United States Patent 1 91 [111 3,877,600

Bell 1 Apr. 15, 1975 [54] CLOSURE ASSEMBLY 3,009,473 11/1961 Hennen 22035 3,217,949 11 1965 D 220 31.5 [75] Inventor: Valenti E Bell, Eden3,591,073 7/1971 13:11:15 2201205 [73] Assignee: lllg/lctlgolnallilIl;roducts Corporation, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 139,091 2 1920United Kingdom 220/35 [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 84,943 12/1920 Germany220/35 21 A 1.N .:2 6,031 l 1 pp 0 9 Primary ExaminerW1ll1am 1. Pr1ceAssistant ExaminerAllan N. Shoap [52] U.S. Cl. 220/334; 131/242;220/20.5; A r Agent, or Firm--Christel & Bean 220/200 [51] Int. Cl...B65d 51/18; B65d 43/16; A24f 19/00 [58] Field of Search 220/29, 35,20.5, 24 GC, [57] ABSTRACT 220/1 131/242 A receptacle closure assemblyhaving a pair of plvoted blades. A spring extending across the undersideof [56] References Cited each blade between the pivot axis and closingedge UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof maintains the blades tightly closedand holds them agalnst rattllng. 2,582,109 1/1952 De Fee 220/352,821,322 l/l958 Stockburger 220/20.5 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 64 y if I] 76 I E l J I E 3 2,

CLOSURE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toan ash receptacle and, more particularly, to a closure assembly for anash receptacle.

Many known cigar and cigarette ash receptacles are provided with closuredevices incorporating normally closed blade members which are mountedfor pivotal movement in opposite directions into an open position fordischarging ashes and refuse into the receptacle. The blade membersoften are weighted in such a manner as to be closed entirely by theforce of gravity. These types of ash receptacles are commonly used inmoving vehicles, such as in the cabs of trucks and heavy mobileequipment for example, and can be annoying to the driver or operatorbecause of the noise caused by the rattling of the loosely mounted blademembers during vehicle movement. Moreover, when such ash receptales areaccidently tipped or when tilted, such as occurs in the tilting of thecab of a tractor rig during the servicing thereof, the blade memberssometimes swing apart to discharge the receptacle contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved closure assembly for an ash receptaclehaving means for maintaining the movable parts thereof in a snug,tightened relation for quietness in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide the foregoing closureassembly with means for maintaining the closure sections closed undervarying conditions of use and orientation.

The ash receptacle closure assembly of the present invention ischaracterized by the provision of a pair of springs, each extendingacross a closure section between the pivot axis and abutting edgethereof and in spaced relation to the latter for biasing such sectionsclosed and for maintaining the movable parts in a snug, tightenedrelation.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and characterizing featuresof the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuingdetailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, takentogether with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numeralsdenote like parts throughout the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of an ashreceptacle closure assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof on a receptacle partiallybroken away to more clearly illustrate the closure assembly;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the closure assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the closure sections in anopen position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the ash receptacle andclosure assembly, with parts thereof broken away, showing the closureassembly in an open position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar'to FIG. 5 but showing the closure assembly in aclosed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring now indetail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanyingdrawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 is a closure assembly, generallydesignated l0, constructed in accordance with this invention, andadapted to be fitted on the open end of an ash receptacle 12 as shown inFIG. 2. Receptacle 12 is a bowl comprising a body having a cylindricalside wall 14 closed at its lower end by a bottom wall 16 formed integraltherewith and open at its upper end. The terms upper, lower, top,bottom, upwardly, downwardly and the like, as used herein, are appliedonly for convenience of description with reference to FIG. 2, and arenot used in a limiting sense.

The sheet metal or other suitable material forming side wall 14 isreversely bent at the upper end thereof and folded against the outersurface thereof to form a peripheral bead 18 along the upper, open end.While receptacle 10 of the illustrated embodiment is cylindrical inshape, it should be understood that receptacle 10 may taken any desiredshape and that in lieu of sheet metal, receptacle 10 can be formed ofany suitable material, as desired.

Closure assembly 12 comprises an annular body 20 of a generally invertedU-shaped configuration having an annular top flange 22 adapted to seaton the upper edge of peripheral bead l8, and annular depending outerwall 24 overlying peripheral bead 18 with a tight friction fit, and anannular inner wall 26 depending from the inner edge of top flange 22 inspaced and parallel relation to side wall 14 of receptacle 10. The loweredge of inner wall 26 terminates in an inturned, horizontally extendingflange 28 serving as a seat for a pair of closure sections or blades 30.As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, flange 28 is interrupted at diametricallyopposed regions by notches 34 for a purpose to be explained.

Inner wall 26 is provided with diametrically opposed wall portions 36adjacent notches 34, each wall portion 36 having a pair ofcircumferentially spaced openings 38 therein. As best shown in FIGS. 5and 6, each wall portion 36 has an irregularly shaped bottom edge 40having a channel shaped lug 42 formed integral therewith and locatedapproximately centrally of wall portion 36. Each lug 42 extends radiallyoutwardly from wall portion 36 toward outer wall 24 for mounting springsthereon as will presently appear.

Closure blades 30 comprise semi-circular, bowlshaped bodies 44terminating in straight, parting edges 46 arranged in an abuttingrelation when sections 30 are in their closed position, as shown inFIG. 1. Bodies 44 also are provided with generally horizontallyextending marginal rims 48 adapted to rest on flange seat 28 whensections 30 are in their closed position. A pair of aligned projections50 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extend radially outwardly from marginal rim 48 ofeach closure section 30, providing pivot pins for insertion into opposedopenings 38 of wall portions 36. These aligned projections 50 define apivot axis, as shown in dashed line 52 in FIG. 3, about which eachclosure section 30 pivots or rocks between open and closed positions.Such pivot axes 52 extend parallel to but spaced from parting edges 46and are disposed inwardly of the center of gravity of closure sections30 so that the forces of gravity are effective upon the heavier portionsof sections 30 located outwardly of pivot axes 52 to urge sections 30toward each other into closed position when receptacle is disposed inits normal upright position, as shown in FIG. 2.

A manually operated actuating member 54 is mounted on the upper surfaceof the marginal rim 48 of one of the closure sections 30 adjacent edge46 thereof for rocking or pivoting sections 30 into an open position. Asshown in FIG. 6, actuating member 54 comprises a body of generallytriangular shape in side elevation formed of plastic or any othersuitable material and having a bottom edge 56, an inclined forward edge58, and an inclined rear edge 60 extending from edge 58 at an anglerelative thereto in a diverging relation towards bottom edge 56 andjoined thereto by a short vertical edge portion 62. Bottom edge 56 isriveted or otherwise fixedly secured to rim 48 of one section 30 and isjoined to vertical edge 56 by a curved portion 64 which slightlyoverlies the adjacent rim 48 of the other closure section 30. Thejuncture of edges 58 and 60 forms an apex 66 which is manually depressedfor rocking the associated closure section 30 about its pivot axis 52 ina counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. Simultaneously, curvedportion 64 engages the upper face of rim 48 of the other closure section30 adjacent straight edge 46 thereof to rock such other section 30 aboutits pivot axis 52 a corresponding amount in an opposite direction. Bothclosure sections 30 are pivoted approximately the same amount into anopen position, such as illustrated in FIG. 5. The tilting or pivotalmovement of closure sections 30 in opposite directions is limited byedge 58 of actuating member 54, which serves as a stop engaging rim 48of the other closure section 30 when sections 30 are opened to theposition shown in FIG. 5. Notches 34, which define interruptions inflange seat 28, provide spaces in which the inner adjacent edge portionsof marginal rims 48 can move about projections 50 downwardly past thelower end of inner wall 26 during the opening of closure sections 30 areshown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Upon release of pressure from actuating member 54, closure sections 30will return to their closed position by gravity due to the weight ofthose portions of closure sections 30 located outwardly of pivot axes 52being greater than the weight of the section portions disposed inwardlyof pivot axes 52.

It is a feature of this invention that closure assembly 12 is providedwith means for securing the movable parts thereof in a tight relationand to positively maintain closure sections 30 closed at all timesexcept upon actuation of member 54. Such means include a pair ofelongated helical compression springs 70 extending along the undersidesof the bowl-shaped bodies 44 intermediate their respective closing edge46 and pivot axis 52. The opposite ends of each spring 70 are providedwith hooks 72 one of which is engaged through opening 38 in a wallportion 36 and the other of which is ingaged in lug 42 of the oppositewall portions 36, the points of engagement of one spring being reversedrelative to the other, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 5and 6, the hooks 72 attached to lugs 42 have an elongated portion 74disposed within the channel defined by lug 42 with the hooked end curvedaround and beneath the outer surface of lug 42.

The springs 70 are slightly stretched across the underside of blades 30in their closed position. Orienting each spring 70 inwardly of theassociated pivot axis 52,

Le. between pivot axis 52 and closing edge 46 of each blade 30 providesa closing bias which increses as blades 30 open, and which urges blades30 together into abutting relation along their respective edges 46, thusmaintaining sections 30 closed, even when receptacle 10 is inverted.Also, springs being normally slightly stretched, hold blades 30 snuglyengaged, both against each other and also against annular body 20, andthereby maintain the entire closure assembly tight, preventing relativemovement between the parts to avoid rattling thereof when subjected tovibrations and other forces.

To prevent possible slippage of springs 70 off the undersides of closuresections 30 when pivoted into an open position because of the relativelyshort distances between pivot axes 52 and edges 46 of sections 30 of theillustrative embodiment, one hook 72 of each spring 70 is mounted inopening 38 causing spring 70 to be oriented at a slight angle relativeto edge 46 as shwon in FIGS. 2 and 3. This precludes slippage of spring70 off body 44 while locating the axis of spring 70 interiorly of pivotaxis 52 to effect the proper bias maintaining sections 30 closed withthe adjacent edges 46 thereof held in tight abutting relation. In largeclosure assemblies 10 wherein pivot axis 52 is spaced a relatively largedistance from edge 46, the opposite ends of the associated spring 70 canbe mounted in a manner orienting spring 70 parallel to edge 46, the onlycriterion being that spring 70 be located interiorly of pivot axis 52between the latter and edge 46.

An upstanding bracket 76 (FIG. 2) is rigidly mounted on top flange 22 ofannular body 20 and is formed with a pair of U-shaped grooves 76 toprovide holders or rests for cigarettes, cigars and the like. The numberof brackets 74 mounted on flange 22 and the number of grooves 76 formedin each bracket can vary, as desired.

In use, closure sections 30 are normally closed to provide a tray at thetop of receptacle 12 for supporting cigarettes and cigars either inholder grooves 76 or on top of flange 22 with the lit portion of thecigarette or cigar overlying the section bodies 44. This tray receivesashes removed or wiped from the ends of the cigarettes or cigars, theinner edge of marginal rims 48 along the peripheries of bodies 44serving as suitable wiping edges for this purpose. The ashes, cigaretteand cigar tubs and other debris are readily dumped into receptacle 12 byactuating member 54 to open closure sections 30 in the manner describedabove.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present inventionaccomplishes its intended objects. The provision of springs 70, whichare stretched across the underside of blades 30 between pivot axes 52and parting edges 46 provide a bias urging closure blades 30 positivelyclosed until actuated and maintain the movable parts in a snug,tightened relation preventing relative movement or play therebetweeen.

A preferred form of this invention having been described in detail, itis to be understood that this has been done by way of illustration only.

I claim:

I. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closuresections having inner abutting edges and outer marginal rims; means formounting said closure sections on a receptacle for pivotal movementabout pivot axes between open and closed positions; said receptaclehaving means defining a seat on which said rims of said closure sectionsrest when said sections are in a closed position; said pivot axesextending generally parallel to said edges in closely spaced relationthereto; spring means operatively connected to said mounting means andoperatively engaging said sections for normally maintaining saidsections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abuttingclosed relation preventing relative movement therebetween and with saidrims tightly against said seat preventing relative movementtherebetween; said spring means comprisingv a pair of elongated springsextending across the undersides of said sections, each spring beingdisposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof is between the pivot axisand the edge in spaced relation to the edge of the corresponding closuresection, said springs being stretched to provide a bias to maintain saidedges in said tightly abutting closed relation and said rims tightlyagainst said seat; and means for pivoting said closure sections awayfrom each other into an open position against the force of said springmeans.

2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mounting meanscomprises aligned projections extending radially outwardly from each ofsaid closure sections and defining said pivot axis about which theassociated section is pivoted.

3. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closuresections having inner abutting edges; means for mounting said closuresections on a receptacle for pivotal movement about pivot axes betwenopen and closed positions; said pivot axes extending generally parallelto said edges in closely spaced relation thereto; spring meansoperatively connected to said mounting means and operatively engagingsaid sections for normally maintaining said sections in a closedposition with said edges in a tightly abutting closed relationpreventing relative movement therebetween; said spring means comprisinga pair of elongated springs extending across the undersides of saidsections between said pivot axes and said edges in spaced relation tosaid edges. said springs extending in a direction generally parallel tosaid edges; and means for pivoting said closure sections away from eachother into an open position against the force of said spring means.

4. A closure assembly according to claim 3 wherein said springs eachextend tightly across the underside of a closure section.

5. A closure assembly according to claim 4 wherein said springs extendgenerally in the direction of said axes.

6. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closuresections having inner abutting edges; means for mounting said closuresections on a receptacle for pivotal movement about pivot axes betweenopen and closed positions; said mounting means comprising an annularbody of a generally inverted U- shaped configuration having an innerwall provided at the lower end thereof with a radially inwardly,generally horizontally extending flange serving as a seat for saidclosure sections; said pivot axes extending generally parallel to saidedges in closely spaced relation thereto; spring means operativelyconnected to said mounting means and operatively engaging said sectionsfor normally maintaining said sections in a closed position with saidedges in a tightly abutting closed relation preventing relative movementtherebetween; and means for pivoting said closure sections away fromeach other into an open position against the force of said spring means.

7. A closure assembly according to claim 6 wherein said mounting meansfurther comprises a bowl-shaped body surrounded by a marginal rimadapted to rest on said inwardly extending flange of said inner wall.

8. A closure assembly according to claim 7 wherein said mounting meansfurther comprise aligned projections extending redially outwardly fromeach of said closure sections and defining said pivot axes about whichsaid closure sections move; said maintaining means comprising a pair ofelongated coil springs mounted on said annular body and extending acrossthe undersides of said closure sections between said pivot axes and saidabutting edges in spaced relation to the latter.

1. A closure assembly for a receptacle comprising: a pair of closuresections having inner abutting edges and outer marginal rims; means formounting said closure sections on a receptacle for pivotal movementabout pivot axes between open and closed positions; said receptaclehaving means defining a seat on which said rims of said closure sectionsrest when said sections are in a closed position; said pivot axesextending generally parallel to said edges in closely spaced relationthereto; spring means operatively connected to said mounting means andoperatively engaging said sections for normally maintaining saidsections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abuttingclosed relation preventing relative movement therebetween and with saidrims tightly against said seat preventing relative movementtherebetween; said spring means comprising a pair of elongated springsextending across the undersides of said sections, each spring beingdisposed so that the longitudinal axis thereof is between the pivot axisand the edge in spaced relation to the edge of the corresponding closuresection, said springs being stretched to provide a bias to maintain saidedges in said tightly abutting closed relation and said rims tightlyagainst said seat; and means for pivoting said closure sections awayfrom each other into an open position against the force of said springmeans.
 2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 wherein said mountingmeans comprises aligned projections extending radially outwardly fromeach of said closure sections and defining said pivot axis about whichthe associated section is pivoted.
 3. A closure assembly for areceptacle comprising: a pair of closure sections having inner abuttingedges; means for mounting said closure sections on a receptacle forpivotal movement about pivot axes betwen open and closed positions; saidpivot axes extending generally parallel to said edges in closely spacedrelation thereto; spring means operatively connected to said mountingmeans and operatively engaging said sections for normally maintainingsaid sections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abuttingclosed relation preventing relative movement therebetween; said springmeans comprising a pair of elongated springs extending across theundersides of said sections between said pivot axes and said edges inspaced relation to said edges, said springs extending in a directiongenerally parallel to said edges; and means for pivoting said closuresections away from each other into an open position against the force ofsaid spring means.
 4. A closure assembly according to claim 3 whereinsaid springs each extend tightly across the underside of a closuresection.
 5. A closure assembly according to claim 4 wherein said springsextend generally in the direction of said axes.
 6. A closure assemblyfor a receptacle comprising: a pair of closure sections having innerabutting edges; means for mounting said closure sections on a receptaclefor pivotal movement about pivot axes between open and closed positions;said mounting means comprising an annular body of a generally invertedU-shaped configuration having an inner wall provided at the lower endthereof with a radially inwardly, generally horizontally extendingflange serving as a seat for said closure sections; said pivot axesextending generally parallel to said edges in closely spaced relationthereto; spring means operatively connected to said mounting means andoperatively engaging said sections for normally maintaining saidsections in a closed position with said edges in a tightly abuttingclosed relation preventing relative movement therebetween; and means forpivoting said closure sections away from each other into an openposition against the force of said spring means.
 7. A closure assemblyaccording to claim 6 wherein said mounting means further comprises abowl-shaped body surrounded by a marginal rim adapted to rest on saidinwardly extending flange of said inner wall.
 8. A closure assemblyaccording to claim 7 wherein said mounting means further comprisealigned projections extending redially outwardly from each of saidclosure sections and defining said pivot axes about which said closuresections move; said maintaining means comprising a pair of elongatedcoil springs mounted on said annular body and extending across theundersides of said closure sections between said pivot axes and saidabutting edges in spaced relation to the latter.